About Us

Board of Directors

Board of Directors Biographies

Cedar River Montessori School (CRMS) is governed by a board of directors that is responsible for guiding and assessing the effective implementation of the CRMS mission:
Cedar River Montessori School fosters the innate curiosity of the child, presenting learning experiences that cultivate independent, creative thinkers who continuously build their understanding of themselves and the world around them.

The Board of Directors is responsible for the governance and fiscal stability of Cedar River Montessori School.

Tasks of the board include: engage in the strategic planning process, network within the broader community for advancement opportunities, and hire and evaluate the Head of School. The Board of Directors is made up of no fewer than five members who serve three year terms.

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  • Board Directors, 2024

    Carol Husmann
    Carol Husmann serves as Program Coordinator for Providence St. Joseph Health, supporting the St. Joseph Community Partnership Fund and other Providence service areas. In this role, Carol provides key technical support and project management for grants and Community Health Needs Assessments across the Providence system. With more than 20 years of administrative and project management experience in a variety of industries, Carol efficiently advances essential functions and streamlines processes. Her strong organizational and technological skills contribute to effective grantmaking that addresses complex problems to improve equity in the community. Prior to her current role, she supported executives at Seattle University, Starbucks, and Hertz. Carol graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet.

    Annie Rodrigues
    Annie is a proud immigrant from Portugal and has lived in the PNW area since 2016. She has a passion for Early Childhood, Math, and Special Education, having worked on those areas for the last years as a nanny, tutor, and paraeducator. She spent her childhood in a small farm-like environment and has carried the values of respect of nature, others, animals, and food sources with her throughout her whole professional and personal life. She has always felt like she wanted to participate more in decisions about education, but wanted to do so where her views and values were welcomed and appreciated. In Cedar River Montessori School, she found a place where she sees her values and childhood reflected, as well as a commitment to the education and success of all students, which is why she joined the Board of Directors. She is a lifetime learner and student, and is excited to work together with the Board for the benefit of the school. 

    Matt Weiner
    Matt lives in Tacoma with his wife, daughter, and their ball loving border collie. He is currently the Director of Development and Auxiliary Programming at Gig Harbor Academy and comes from over 15 years of experience as an elementary aged classroom teacher in independent and public schools along with a foundation in outdoor and environmental education. He is currenting on the Alumni Association Board for a local independent school, recently finished an Emerging Leadership Program through NWAIS, and actively seeks ways to support schools and educational organizations. When Matt is not supporting schools he can often be found checking out new playgrounds for his toddler, spending time with family and friends in the PNW, or finding ways to stay active with the most recent learning challenge; wing, wake, and surf foiling. A recent visit to CRMS reinforced the desire to serve on this Board of Directors to support and push forward the sustainable vision and mission of Cedar River Montessori School.

  • Board Officers, 2024

    Jill Pugh, President
    Jill lives in Newcastle with her husband, daughter, their big fluffy dog and three cats. She is an attorney and spent twenty years practicing employment law in her own private practice, representing employees and a select few small businesses.  Jill has served on several other nonprofit boards, such as the Unemployment Law Project, King County Bar Association and the the King County Chapter of the Washington Women Lawyers Association. Jill’s daughter currently attends Cedar River. CRMS’s mission and values align with Jill’s educational and professional background, serving on the Board helps feed her lifelong passion for working towards equity and anti discrimination. 

    Schuyler Reid, Vice President
    Born and raised in Alaska, Schuyler Reid (she/her/hers) sought out adventure in Shanghai and New York City before settling down in West Seattle to enjoy a quieter pace of life. While globe trotting, Schuyler realized her passion for human rights advocacy and found fulfilling work in impactful, mission-driven organizations. In her current role at an international human rights non-profit, she has the exciting privilege of building engaging and meaningful learning and development opportunities for over 500 staff in almost 50 countries. In her free time, Schuyler enjoys volunteering, exploring Washington's magnificent parks, finding little free libraries in her neighborhood, baking tasty treats, and embroidering nature scenes onto pillowcases.

    Robert McGinnis, Treasurer
    Bio coming soon.

    Renae Howard, Secretary
    Renae Howard is an avid supporter of Montessori education, and is the parent of a Cedar River alumni. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Renae loves to kayak the lakes and ponds in the Seattle area. Renae's background is in bookkeeping and office management and she is grateful to have supported Cedar River Montessori in a shared role as Business Manager for several years. Renae's recent career has included supporting growing tech firms and real estate companies. Renae currently provides bookkeeping support for small and mid-sized companies. She hopes to lend her experience as an alumni parent, and a former employee, to the Cedar River Montessori board. 

Are you passionate about Montessori education and the importance of connecting to the natural world?

Are you looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity where your time and expertise will be respected and harnessed to create real, positive change in children’s lives, our communities, and in our ecosystem? If so, our board development committee would love to talk with you!
We are always interested in meeting with people who share our passions and would like to learn more about serving on our Board of Directors! Individuals from all cultures and communities are encouraged to apply. Please click below to read our Board of Directors job description (PDF), and to begin the application process by completing a brief contact form. The board development committee will be in touch with you shortly – thank you!